BECOME A LICENSED SKYDIVER
Complete Your ‘A’ License in a Week:
Complete your initial "A" license in a week. We have several options for you chose from to either just get a license or begin training towards a specific goal such as large formations, wing suit flying, or freeflying. And of course, eventually becoming a professional in the sport of skydiving.
There are a series of licenses each allowing certain privileges: the first being the "A" license. Most National Associations have as many as 3-5 license levels. The Unites States Parachute Association, as an example has A-B-C and D license levels. The "A" license allows you to jump "solo" at any North American drop zone and around the world.
Skydive University Offers Two Basic USPA ‘A’ License Packages:
1) a license providing coaching to only fulfill the National license requirements, and
2) receiving coaching on all jumps except the mandatory solo (3) jumps in the license program.
The focus of your initial license is to provide you with all of the essential safety skills for you to skydive on under your own supervision and as well as jump with others and be able to approach and leave a group in freefall safely as well as fly your parachute within traffic to a common landing area. The higher the license level you achieve the more the privileges awarded to you to further enjoy skydiving.
To clarify the purpose of licenses they are tasks and knowledge ensuring safety in our sport. The license levels do not correspond to being an excellent "athlete" or performer. Skydive University also provides specific coaching programs to achieve either the sport disciplines or professional development in skydiving.
Skydive University follows a structured Integrated Student Program (ISP) or “A” license program utilizing 22 unique flight planners. The planners ensure all safety information has been covered as well as thorough canopy pilot training. The planners also cover the canopy control training necessary for the USPA “B” license.
The skills matrix that you will be trained in and complete following the TAFF (8 jump) program is listed below.
|
“A” LICENSE MATRIX |
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|
Category |
In-flight |
Freefall |
Canopy control |
Flight Plan |
Equipment |
Theory & Review |
|
G Level 9 |
Rear float exit Door & grip safety |
Forward (6-10 feet) Backward Grips SCS Directional control Break-off Track |
Rear Riser turn, toggles stowed Best glide |
Adjust Pattern |
Pack |
Altitude awareness Group freefall Collision avoidance upon deployment (rear riser) |
|
G Level 10 |
Rear float exit |
Forward with SCS (15-20 feet) Delta for separation |
Best glide |
Long spot strategies Crosswind-upwind spot strategies |
Pack |
Canopy collision Canopy drift calculation |
|
G Level 11 |
Rear float exit |
Backward & forward Directional control (12-15 feet) Track for separation |
Check line length Loosen chest strap Collapse slider |
Adjust approach on final Stationary Point |
Replace closing loop 3 ring care Pack |
Turbulence Canopy traffic |
|
G Level 12 |
Front float exit |
Downward move Upward move Upward/proximity Final Approach Zone Track for separation |
Practice flares (eyes open) Practice flares (eyes closed) |
Accuracy |
Pack |
Balanced flight Freefall traffic Group free-fall |
|
G Level 13 |
Front float exit |
Down then forward dock Down then forward dock |
Flare from ¼, ½, ¾ brakes |
Accuracy |
Pack |
Accidental activation |
|
G Level 14 |
Front float exit |
Down/forward dock Up/forward to dock |
180° braked turns. (¼, ½, ¾) |
Accuracy |
Pack |
Aircraft: Loading with weight & balance Canopy |
|
H Level 15 |
Dive exit (1 second) |
Stairstep approach Flare test Mantis Center turns 90° |
Dynamic half brake turns |
Accuracy |
Pack |
Low recovery Fast fall Glide angle (levels/proximity) Quadrants |
|
H Level 16
|
Dive Exit (2 second) |
Delta - Stairstep Flaring to relative wind Delta angle control Flare test Center turns 180° |
Turn reversals |
Accuracy |
Pack |
Pre-boarding jumper briefing A License |
|
H Level 17
|
Dive Exit (2+ second) |
Delta with SCS Center turns 360° Hop and Pop 5,500 Hop and Pop 3,500 |
Turn reversals |
Braked landing Accuracy |
Pack
|
Low turn Pilot briefing |
|
Level 18 |
Floater track exit |
Outfacing 90° Stair step
|
Harness turns |
Accuracy |
Pack Test
|
Freefly |
|
Level 19 |
Floater track exit |
Outfacing 180° Bipole |
Front riser turns 90°-180 |
Cross wind landing Accuracy |
Gear selection |
High altitude & oxygen |
|
Level 20 |
Launch piece |
Outfacing 180° cat |
Front riser dive |
Accuracy |
|
Water landing |
|
Level 21 |
Launch piece |
Sidewards side body |
Free Choice |
Accuracy |
|
Single harness Parachute rigging |
|
Level 22 |
Launch piece |
Sidewards accordion |
Free Choice |
Accuracy |
|
Radio Notam Door removal |
|
Level 23 |
Launch piece |
Superposiional |
Free Choice |
Accuracy |
|
Parachuting operations Aircraft operations Airspace & airplanes |
|
Level 24-25 |
Boarding check 3 Spot Free choice exit |
Hop & Pop (2) |
Free Choice |
Pattern Accuracy |
Safety check 3’s |
A exam oral A exam written Advanced E.P. class |